Two hospitals have apologised for the failings in care to a young Cork boy whose brain tumour grew and went undetected for over 12 years.
Jack Doran, Carrigaline, Co Cork, was only 15 years of age when he died two days after the 10cm brain tumour was finally discovered after he was brought to hospital suffering from seizures.
The apologies from both hospitals, which acknowledged that an opportunity was earlier missed to identify low-grade cells on Jack's brain, were read to the court as his parents settled a High Court action over his death.
Outside the Four Courts his devastated parents said their love for Jack is to infinity and beyond reflecting the autistic boy’s love of the movie Toy Story.
"Thank you for being a great brother to Conor. You taught us so much in your short life - the true meaning of unconditional love. You are missed beyond words, our darling boy. Our love for you Jack is to infinity and beyond," they said in a statement.
The Dorans also said there is a shortage of facilities to perform MRIs in Munster and this should be rectified "especially for our most vulnerable children".
"We never want another family to go through what we’ve been through," they said.
The family’s counsel Liam Reidy SC, instructed by Orla Kelly of Cantillons Solicitors, told the High Court that Jack had a cyst on the brain which grew over the years and caused his death in 2021, when he was 15 years of age.
Children’s Health Ireland sincerely apologised for the failings in Jack’s care and treatment at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin from 2008 to 2021.
Jack got his first brain scan in the Dublin hospital in 2008 when he was 3 years old, and it was claimed this was not reported correctly and Jack had been deprived of the chance to have the low-grade cyst present in the 2008 scan resected, which would have allowed him to survive into adulthood.
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In the apology, which was read to the High Court, Children’s Health Ireland acknowledged "that an opportunity was missed to identify a low-grade glioma" which is a collection of cells on the brain.
It said, "had this diagnosis been made Jack would have been recommended for surveillance and sadly that opportunity was lost".
Children’s Health Ireland offered condolences to Jack’s parents and said it acknowledged "the pain and suffering that this has caused to you and your family".
Mercy University Hospital Cork, in an apology read to the court, acknowledged that an opportunity was missed in 2020 when Jack was brought to hospital, after a fall to identify a low-grade glioma which it said "would have resulted in early surgical intervention and which would probably have prevented Jack’s death".
It added: "We wish to extend our sincere apologies to you and your family for the failings in Jack's care and treatment and for the profound grief and loss you have all experienced."
The hospital CEO, Ann Coyle on behalf of the management and staff at the Mercy University Hospital, also expressed sincere and deepest sympathy to the Dorans "for the devastating loss of your son, Jack".
